Chidambaram wants cricket match in Srinagar

Jammu: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday slammed the Indian army cricket team popularly known as Services for refusing to play a Ranji trophy match in Srinagar and instructed them to play another match in the same venue to repair the damage done by their decision.

The minister said that he was not aware of the move by Service Sports Control Board to pull out of the match against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar due to security reasons.

Speaking to the media-men Chidambaram said the decision of forfeiture of the match was taken at a lower level.

“I express my strong displeasure at the decision. If I had known it in time, I would have ensured it did not happen," he said. “The Services Board must request the BCCI to schedule another match in Srinagar," Chidambaram said.

Minister said that he will ensure cricket matches and others sports tournaments were held in Srinagar.

“I will see that a cricket match takes place in Srinagar," he asserted.

The BCCI banned the Services from this year's Ranji trophy cricket season for skipping the match in the Bakshi stadium in Srinagar.

The BCCI, however, said that a decision whether to lift the ban or not would be taken by the President after receiving and studying the apology by the Services.